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Leam - Answered a Question by Brakewell (13 Nov 07 19:18)

Why do people have such a problem with "dressing up". It seems a little perverse to want to cruise without wishing to look and feel good. Surely a lerge part of the attraction of cruising is having the opportunity to dress well without feeling out of place. Give it a try.

This largely depends on what cruise line you are holidaying with. The QE2, for instance discourages informal dress in the evenings eg. shorts, t-shirts, sports wear.Thomson won't mind so long as you stay in the informal areas. Orient lines allow smart/casual at the buffet. Generally you can't go wrong if you think 'lunch at the golf club'. It's always better to be over dressed on a cruise rather than have the embarrassment of being asked to change. I've seen it happen.

Dressing formally on the nights specified as Formal by the cruise Line is not a condition of the booking contract.It is peer pressure which dictates the state of attire.Most people like to dress up and go out,thaT is whythe cruise lines get away with their suggestions each day of what to wear. Eric Davie.

Thomson celebration caters for both formal and informal dress at dinner.Part of a cruise is dressing up.Cost of a dinner suit can be off putting but both Matalan and Asda are selling Dinner suits for £40at present.(limeted stocks)The complete outfit at Mataln £40 and £5 voucher. Less than a decent par of trouser.

Formal nights are voluntary but you will feel somewhat left out as almost everybody gets in the mood and dresses up,it`s all part of the experience.You could not bother and just dine in the buffet areas but you will be lonely!

I agree with the above.
What I do find confusing and wish they would change, is on Celebrity ships where they indicate 'informal' clothes. This does not mean informal at all, in fact, much the opposite. Semi-formal may be a better term to use, as cocktail dresses for the ladies and jackets and ties for the men should be worn. Informal it is not.

We've cruised with Royal Carribean & P & O and both ships have the same policy. On formal evenings you are expected to dress up if dining in the more formal restaurants, but of course you can eat informally in the self-service restaurants if you don't want to dress up. However, you've paid for everytning up front, so it's well worth dining formally at least once on each cruise. It's a great experience. I worried a bit as I'm not exactly small, so dress choice is limited, but I needn't have worried, as there were all types of formal dress, from tops & skirts to the full 'come dancing' clobber.